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Will Middlebrooks, David Ross both return to lineup; Red Sox had Brock Holt on call if needed

Will Middlebrooks, David Ross

Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks, left, reacts after crashinginto catcher David Ross while making the play on a foul pop by Minnesota Twins' Chris Parmelee during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Both players left the game. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

BOSTON — The collision that kept David Ross and Will Middlebrooks out on Wednesday seems to have worked out as well as the Red Sox could have hoped. Two days after the pair was hurt, Ross and Middlebrooks returned to the lineup Thursday for the finale of a four-game series with the Twins.

"Both guys continue to show improvement and even by the end of the game last night, their stiffness and soreness was starting to further dissipate," Sox manager John Farrell said Thursday. "So they felt like they were ready in emergency situations last night, which was the case. Over night they continue to feel better and they're ready to go today."

Middlebrooks hurt his right side, his ribcage area, while the top of Ross' left knee was banged up in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to Minnesota. Farrell said on Wednesday night that he expected Middlebrooks would be available Thursday.

"It's still pretty sore, pretty tender," Middlebrooks said Thursday. "I got a nice little bruise on my ribs. I thought I got hit by a truck. I've got to pick the biggest guy on the team to pick on? But it was actually the wall that got me the best. But I'm fine, good enough to play. Actually wanted to play yesterday but, precautionary reasons."

At least initially, the Red Sox had enough fear about Middlebrooks' status that they had infielder Brock Holt on call in Boston. Holt wrote as much on Twitter on Thursday. He left the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox and caught a flight to Boston, just in case he was needed.

Farrell indicated mild surprise at how quickly Middlebrooks returned.

"If you were to ask me that right after the collision, maybe." Farrell said, "But as they got through the next day, they take care of what they need to in terms of the treatment needed and the amount of repetition they got with it. So the fact that they were able to go today is not completely surprising."